BERLIN - The Stop & Shop in Berlin has a new reason to make you stop and shop.

The grocery store at 1135 Farmington Ave. recently underwent major renovations including implementing the store’s new logo, updating the lighting, painting and grocery carts, painting the sidewalk and more.

“Everybody’s so excited about it,” said Ellen McCue, store manager of Stop & Shop, after a ribbon cutting for the grand re-opening recently.

The renovations are part of a $70 million investments to 21 Stop & Shop stores in the Greater Hartford area that began over a year ago, said Jennifer Brogan of Stop & Shop. The new look includes a logo that pays homage to the store’s original logo, with a red and green circle looking like a traffic light.

“We recognize that our customer is changing, and we’re evolving our entire shopping experience to better serve them. They’re focused on getting back to their lives, juggling many responsibilities and we want to make grocery shopping even easier and faster for them,” said Stop & Shop President Mark McGowan. “Hartford is the first step in our journey towards repositioning our brand for future success and in helping our communities enjoy better food and better lives.”

With the new look also comes the new PUP service, which allows customers to order groceries online, notify store employees when they arrive in the parking lot and have the groceries delivered to their car from sheds outside the store kept cool with dry ice.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s such a convenience,” said McCue. “Hopefully it will catch on more and more. Everyday we’re getting more and more orders.”

The store employs 120 people, McCue said, and her main priority is being involved with the local community.

“I want to be a part of the community and I feel like I am definitely,” said McCue. “I’m all about the people. If I don’t have the people I don’t have anything else. That’s the part I love the best.”

McCue said she will make food, coffee, drinks and water donations to several organizations in town including the Veterans, the Girl Scouts, the high school swimming team and more.

“I try to help every single organization in Berlin,” said McCue. “Everybody I try to cater to.”

McCue will also collect for the food bank, place flags and wreaths at the cemeteries in town around the holidays and recently donated several thousands of dollars to Hubbard and Willard Elementary schools.

“I absolutely love it,” said Kristen Dignazio, of Berlin, who was shopping with her two-year-old daughter Elley.

With the redesign came an expanded natural selection, which includes non-dairy food for Elley.

“I don’t have to drive out there anymore,” said Dignazio of the previous trek she would make to Newington for such items. “It’s much easier.”

“It feels a lot brighter and it’s easier to find things,” she added of the new look. “We never have a complaint. The staff are wonderful.”

To commemorate the re-opening, ribbon cutting events will be taking place at the 21 stores and Stop & Shop will be donating $25,000 to Foodshare.

Charles Paullin can be reached at 860-801-5074 or cpaullin@centralctcommunications.com.